Links

About Me

All Rights Reserved

Any copying or distribution of the content on this web log for commercial purposes is prohibited if done without the prior written permission of the author. Unless stated otherwise all content is the original work of Dennis D. Muhumuza, initially published by The Daily Monitor

Subscribe

Powered By

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Every man’s healthy body needs

By Dennis D. Muhumuza

In Uganda, the man is the leader and provider in the home. Even
the emancipation of women has not changed that status quo as most men
confess they do not know how their working wives spend their salaries.
The women go on the defensive, saying a woman’s money is a woman’s
money and the man has no business poking his nose into how she spends
it. But that’s a story for another day. For today, the focus is on the healthy choices the man must make to live long and strong to fulfill his roles in society.

Good
health and wealth is God’s will for man: “Dear friends, I pray that you
may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your
soul is getting along well” (3 John 1:2).
But how can it be well with your body, soul and mind when you feed
poorly, have inadequate rest, and rarely do exercises? And if it’s not
well with you in body, soul and mind, how will you be able to lead and
provide for your family efficiently and sufficiently?

At a
recent Men’s Conference organised by the Men’s Ministry of Makerere Full
Gospel Church, the key presenter, Dr Joseph Mwebe, told men that
despite advances in research and the glut of accessible information,
people are more unwell than before: “Because of poor healthy choices,
many men have been hit by an epidemic of diabetes, high blood pressure,
arthritis, allergies and asthma, obesity, low immunity, ulcers,
infertility, dehydration, stress and other illnesses that could have
been prevented with better health choices.”
Dr Mwebe proposed
healthy choices that will keep some common diseases at bay, help in
better blood circulation, and keep the mind alert, helping the man to
stay vibrant physically and mentally.

Know your health
First, every man who values life should go for a health screening.
Test for HIV, blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and blood fats,
know your waist circumference, body mass index, do a liver function test
especially if you drink alcohol, screen for cancer (testicular and
prostate for men) and visit a dentist. Prevention is better than cure
and a timely health screening can prevent all sorts of diseases.

Secondly, most men focus on making money at the expense of their
health. They often catch a quick late lunch washed down with soda before
they rush back to their desks.

But Heather Morgan, a nutrition
expert, says, “Every time you eat or drink, you are either feeding a
disease or fighting it.” It is important for men to feed on a balanced
diet.

What your body needs “Ninety per
cent of our diet must be based on plant foods because plants have
complete protein and more protein per calorie than animals,” says Dr
Mwebe, “and 50 per cent of our foods must be eaten raw. Foods must
ideally be eaten ‘whole’ - unrefined and unprocessed; preferably with
their seeds and skins.”

Health benefits of eating vegetables such
as spinach, nakati, dodo, sukamawiki, cabbages, cucumber, carrots, not
forgetting tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, garlic are well known. Even the
Bible vouches for vegetables. Daniel, Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego
refused King Nebuchadnezzar’s choice delicacies and wine in favour of
vegetables and water.

And in 10 days they were healthier than
those who were eating the king’s delicacies (Daniel 1:5-16). So forget
chips and sausages. According to Dr Mwebe, sausages cause cancer and are
as dangerous as cigarettes. Also, ditch red meat in preference to white
meat (fish and poultry - preferably local chicken).

It is
important to have enough rest to relax the mind and body after a good
day’s work. Doctors recommend at least eight hours of sleep for a
reason. That is when the body recharges ready to take on another day. A
well-rested body and mind can hardly be stressed. MPs doze in parliament
because most of them are unfit and rarely have adequate rest. Realise
how important sufficient sleep is and do not stay out late with the boys
drinking alcohol or watching soccer.

A man who applies the above healthy living principles will live long and strong.

Must-haves
Drinking lots of water is also a great healthy choice because water
is the “single most important nutrient for our bodies.” Dr Mwebe says
we are 65 per cent water, our brains are 75 per cent water and our lungs
80 per cent water.

Basically we would be doomed without water.
So men, we must drink at least two litres of water each day; room
temperature - not hot nor cold.

Also, do not drink while eating,
rather drink thirty minutes before and two hours after your meals. Some
of the signs that you are not drinking enough water include headaches,
backache, constipation, joint pains, fatigue, memory loss and weight
problems.

To the workaholic men who rarely have time for
exercises you’re unknowingly committing suicide. As Dr Mwebe said
succinctly, “Money and insurance can’t make us healthy!” So it’s better
to rise from that swivel chair and engage in some sweat-breaking
physical activity.

Jog, lift weights, punch a sand bag and
achieve maximum fitness. Before you know it you’ll be walking as if on
springs like Okonkwo and will become superman to your wife and children.